Home / Disasters and Accidents / Washington Flooded: 1 Dead as Levee Breaches Force Evacuations
Washington Flooded: 1 Dead as Levee Breaches Force Evacuations
17 Dec
Summary
- One fatality occurred after a driver drove past road closure signs into floodwaters.
- Evacuation orders are in effect for Pacific, Washington, due to a levee breach.
- Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Washington throughout Tuesday.
Tragic flash flooding has claimed at least one life in Washington state, leading to urgent evacuation orders in affected communities. A 33-year-old male driver was fatally discovered inside a vehicle submerged in six feet of water early Tuesday morning. Authorities reported the driver appeared to have disregarded road closure signs before entering the flooded area.
Currently, an evacuation order and flash flood warning are active for the town of Pacific, Washington. This is a consequence of a levee breach along the White River. The situation follows a similar levee breach in Tukwila, a suburb of Seattle, which also triggered evacuation mandates and warnings on Monday.
Forecasters anticipate moderate to heavy rainfall across Washington throughout Tuesday, with thunderstorms expected by late afternoon and evening. Drier conditions are predicted for Wednesday, though snow is expected in the mountainous regions. Investigations are ongoing to determine if any substances contributed to the fatal incident.
